The Last Dawn
Chapter 1. Routine Day

The early morning sun streamed through the blinds, casting a warm glow across the small, orderly apartment. Logan Dawson lay in bed for a moment, staring at the ceiling, letting the remnants of a dream fade away. The sharp beep of his alarm clock snapped him back to reality. He reached out, silencing it with a practiced flick of his finger.

He swung his legs out of bed, his feet touching the cool floor. His apartment was modest but meticulously organized. Each piece of furniture, each book on the shelf, was placed with intention. He made his way to the bathroom, the routine of his morning unfolding with disciplined precision.

After a brisk shower, Logan stood in front of the mirror, running a comb through his damp hair. He dressed in his usual attire a neatly pressed shirt, slacks, and a pair of comfortable shoes suited for a day’s work at BioCorp.

BioCorp extended an offer to Logan for an internship two years ago after graduated from Harvard in Biology. BioCorp was a leading readership company studying viral compounds, genetic make up and bacterial fungi and how it effects the brains of mammals.

In the kitchen, he prepared a simple breakfast, oatmeal with a sliced banana and a cup of black coffee. He ate in silence, his mind already transitioning to the tasks of the day. He glanced at his watch, noting the time with a nod.

Logan liked his routine. He was a military brat and his father had taught him to always stay on schedule and have a plan for everything.

His father John died in combat when Logan was fifteen. He was in the Marine Corps, a Gunnery Sgt. Or Gunny, Logan would always hear. Logan’s mother Leanne passed away at birth, so he never really got a chance to know her. His father would always talk about how beautiful she was, long dark wavy hair, crisp green eyes. John never married again after Leanne.

Finishing his breakfast, he rinsed his bowl and placed it in the dishwasher. Everything had its place, and everything was in its place. Logan grabbed his backpack, ensuring he had everything he needed badge, notebook, pen, and the encrypted USB drive BioCorp provided for secure data transport.

With one last look around the apartment to make sure everything was in order, he opened the door and stepped out into the corridor, locking the door behind him. As he walked down the hallway, he mentally prepared for the day ahead, unaware of the unprecedented events that were soon to unfold.

“Good morning Logan.” Sarah said smiling as she locked her neighboring apartment door.

“Hey good morning Sarah.” Logan replied slightly smiling as he pressed the elevator button.

“Hey I was thinking, I see you pass the store everyday on you’re way to work. I was going to see if you wanted to stop by.” Sarah asked as she had many times over the past two years they’ve lived next to each other.

“Oh, thanks but I’ve got a lot of work to do.” Logan replied adjusting his bag.

The elevator ride was awkward for Logan, it wasn’t that Logan didn’t like Sarah, it was quite the opposite. He felt like he couldn’t be fair to her because he was so busy with his internship. Yeah he goes on dates and haves fun with other girls occasionally but he didn’t see Sarah as a one-night stand. Plus, she lives next door, and it would be too awkward for him.

Logan stepped out of his apartment building into the bustling city. The morning air was crisp, the sounds of the waking city filling the air honking cars, distant sirens, and the murmur of people starting their day. He walked with a purposeful stride, blending into the flow of the city’s rhythm.

As he made his way to the subway, he exchanged familiar nods with the regular faces he saw each day the barista at the coffee shop on the corner, the old man who walked his dog at the same time every morning, and the group of joggers who always seemed to have endless energy.

“Morning Logan, usual today?” The Barista yelled out.

“Oh no, not today Sam I’m in a rush.”

At the subway station, he swiped his pass and joined the throng of commuters on the platform. The train arrived with a whoosh of air, and he stepped inside, replaceing a spot near the door. The car was filled with the sound of headphones, the flipping of newspaper pages, and the soft buzz of whispered conversations.

The train lurched forward, and Logan held onto the rail, his thoughts drifting to the day ahead. The familiar stops passed by in a blur as he mentally reviewed his schedule. Meetings, lab work, reports it was going to be a full day.

As the train approached the BioCorp station, Logan felt a familiar sense of anticipation. Despite the routine nature of his job, there was always an underlying excitement about working at one of the world’s leading research facilities.

The train slowed to a stop, and the doors slid open. Logan stepped out, along with a stream of other BioCorp employees, each absorbed in their own thoughts and preparations for the day. The group dispersed as they exited the station, heading toward the imposing BioCorp building that loomed in the distance a symbol of innovation and, unbeknownst to Logan, the source of impending chaos.

Logan emerged from the subway, the towering facade of BioCorp dominating the skyline. The building’s sleek, modern design stood out amidst the city’s architectural tapestry, a beacon of technological advancement and scientific pursuit. He joined the steady flow of employees heading towards the main entrance, their badges glinting in the morning sun.

As Logan approached the security checkpoint, a familiar face greeted him from behind the scanner.

“Bright and early as always.” Rick the security guard said.

“Hey good morning Rick, you know how it is. Busy day man.” Logan smiled.

He placed his bag on the conveyor belt and walked through the metal detector. The guard gave him a nod as the scanner beeped in approval, signaling Logan to proceed.

“Have a good one young man.” Rick said.

“You too Rick.” Logan replied.

Inside, the lobby was buzzing with activity. The air was filled with the sound of hurried footsteps, muffled conversations, and the occasional beep of a badge reader granting access. Logan passed a group of interns huddled around a digital display, discussing a complex-looking data graph.

As he made his way to the elevators, he passed by the reception desk. The receptionist, a middle-aged woman with a kind smile, looked up from her screen.

“Good morning, Logan. Dr. Grey was asking about you. Seems like you’re needed upstairs.” Heather said.

Logan with a hint of curiosity in his voice “Oh? Thanks for the heads up. I’ll head straight there.”

The elevator dinged softly as it arrived. Logan stepped in and pressed the button for the lab floor. As the doors closed, he let out a small sigh, bracing himself for whatever Dr. Grey needed. The usual mix of excitement and nervousness about the day’s potential discoveries bubbled within him.

The elevator hummed softly as it ascended, carrying Logan not just towards his daily responsibilities, but unknowingly, towards the heart of a mystery that would soon engulf not just BioCorp, but the entire world.

The elevator dinged upon reaching Logan’s floor, the doors sliding open to reveal the bustling corridor of BioCorp’s research wing. He stepped out, greeted by the familiar, sterile scent of the lab and the faint buzz of high-tech equipment.

As he made his way to his workstation, he passed by a cluster of colleagues engaged in a lively discussion by the coffee machine.

“Logan, you’re just in time we are debating the HFAS trials. What do you think?” Dr. Joan

“It’s promising, but we have to be careful about off-target effects. Precision is key in gene editing.” Logan replied confidentially.

“Exactly what I said. Thanks for backing me up, Logan.” Dr. Green exclaimed slapping Logan on the back.

Continuing towards his desk, Logan encountered another colleague, Mia, who seemed troubled, her eyes fixed on her computer screen.

“Hey Mia, everything alright?”

“Oh, Logan, yes. Just some confusing results from yesterday’s tests. Not sure what to make of it.”

“Want a second pair of eyes on it?”

“Would you? That’d be great. I’ll send you the data.”

“No problem, I’ll take a look during my break.”

He finally reached his workstation, a neatly organized desk with multiple monitors and stacks of research papers. As he settled in, his supervisor, Dr. Evans, approached.

“Logan, good you’re here. I need you to take these documents to Dr. Grey’s office. It’s urgent.” Dr. Evan’s demanded.

“Sure thing, Dr. Evans. Heading there now.”

“And Logan, they’re confidential. Straight to Dr. Grey, understood?”

“Understood.” Logan replied, not really understanding why she couldn’t run the “highly confidential” documents herself.

Logan sensed the importance of the task. He tucked the documents into his folder and made his way to Dr. Grey’s office, feeling the weight of responsibility. The corridors of BioCorp were always filled with the promise of discovery and the pressure of secrecy, a duality that Logan navigated daily but was about to become even more complex.

Logan arrived at Dr. Grey’s office, a spacious room lined with bookshelves and awards that testified to the doctor’s esteemed career. Dr. Grey, a tall man with a commanding presence, looked up from his desk as Logan knocked on the door.

“Logan, come in. Do you have the documents?”

“Yes, Dr. Grey. Right here.”

Dr. Grey took the folder and briefly scanned through the contents, his expression unreadable.

“Good, good. This is sensitive information, Logan. It’s crucial it stays confidential.”

“Of course, Dr. Grey. I understand the importance.”

“You’re proving to be a reliable member of our team, Logan. I have another task for you. We’re conducting a series of trials this afternoon. I need you to oversee the setup. Ensure everything is double-checked.” Dr. Grey leaned back in his chair.

“Absolutely, I’ll make sure everything is in order. Any specific concerns I should be aware of?”

“Precision and caution, Logan. That’s all I ask. This research... it’s groundbreaking. It could change everything.”

“Understood. I’ll give it my full attention.”

As Logan turned to leave, a part of the document caught his eye, a title reading ‘COVID-2193 Project’. He hesitated for a moment, curiosity piqued, but then decided it wasn’t his place to ask.